{"id":332,"date":"2009-11-23T10:40:33","date_gmt":"2009-11-23T09:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hazards.org\/blacklistblog\/?p=332"},"modified":"2009-11-23T10:42:52","modified_gmt":"2009-11-23T09:42:52","slug":"skanska%e2%80%99s-desperate-ruse-to-evade-blacklist-blame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hazards.org\/blacklistblog\/2009\/11\/23\/skanska%e2%80%99s-desperate-ruse-to-evade-blacklist-blame\/","title":{"rendered":"Skanska\u2019s desperate ruse to evade blacklist blame"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Building firm Skanska, the construction giant that last year ran up the largest single bill for use of The Consulting Association\u2019s blacklisting services, has resorted to a novel defence of the illegal practice. It claims it used the blacklist of construction workers to vet employees for a history of violence and drug or alcohol abuse \u2013 a claim dismissed out of hand by those who have obtained their files.<\/p>\n

Harvey Francis, executive vice-president for human resources (HR), told People Management<\/a> magazine that it had subscribed to the list, which contained confidential details of 3,213 construction workers, \u201cto ensure the safety of people working on our sites\u201d \u2013 not to blacklist people on the grounds of trade union membership as reported in the press.<\/p>\n

\u201cHealth and safety in construction is of paramount importance,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile I\u2019m not excusing [using the blacklist], this was also a way of trying to keep the sites safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Francis said Skanska had \u201ctaken every possible step\u201d to ensure the practice was abolished at the firm, which has 5,500 UK staff, beginning with an internal investigation led by HR. This revealed that Skanska, which was invoiced more than \u00a320,000 in 2008 by the Consulting Association, \u201cinadvertently inherited\u201d use of the service through company acquisitions.
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\nFrancis, who joined the company two years ago and took up his role as HR chief a year later, said about 30 HR and line managers who had \u201cpotential for involvement\u201d were interviewed for the three-month investigation, but no one had lost their job as a result.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis all happened in the past so instead of turning it into a witch hunt, we decided to take a much more future-focused approach to make sure it never happened again,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The claims have been met with incredulity by blacklisted construction workers. Files seen by the Blacklist Support Group (BSG) do not include any mention of workers alcohol or drug use or evidence of violence. Instead they focus on trade union activity, particularly where workers have complained or taken action about site safety conditions.<\/p>\n

Nor was Skanska just a passive recipient of information. Files obtained by BSG include information submitted to The Consulting Association by Skanska. The information was entirely related to trade union activity and raising safety concerns on site.<\/p>\n

Francis indicated the damage to the company\u2019s reputation had been limited because it had been a sector-wide problem. \u201cI\u2019m not saying that in order to explain away our behaviour because clearly it was wrong but the fact is that it was an industry issue,\u201d he said, adding that Skanska had \u201cgood and co-operative\u201d relationships with construction unions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Building firm Skanska, the construction giant that last year ran up the largest single bill for use of The Consulting Association\u2019s blacklisting services, has resorted to a novel defence of the illegal practice. It claims it used the blacklist of construction workers to vet employees for a history of violence and drug or alcohol abuse … <\/p>\n

Continue reading “Skanska\u2019s desperate ruse to evade blacklist blame”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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